http://www.abc27.com/story/23416243/train-crashes-with-truck-near-boiling-springs
Happened on NS Lurgan Branch today …might have to drive out tomorrow …I tried today …wasn’t happening
Hmmm, the lead emd engine stayed upright and appears on the tracks? The two GEs following came off the tracks? and the bridge is still impaled on the train! Sheesh. Must have been a violent crash.
WOW What a mess. The train really powdered that concrete beam. Why did the headline say train hits truck and not truck got in the way of the train? Luckily no one hurt btu I bet the bridge build will now be behind schedule.
Truck, bridge span beam, some locomotives and freight cars with freight wrecked.
That’s gonna cost the trucking co. some dough.
Lived near there, in Mechanicsburg, for three years and know that road reasonably well. I suspect they hadn’t done their recce properly or they would have picked that as a difficult turn, and (if they had any sense) arranged a clear time with NS. But I suspect they didn’t even think of it…
Steve
Holy moly thats a serious mess alright. I’m very surprised that the truck company didnt check the train company for schedules at that crossing.
One heck of a mess.
That’s not an OOPS, that’s an Aw S**T!!
Steve Pearson said:
Lived near there, in Mechanicsburg, for three years and know that road reasonably well. I suspect they hadn’t done their recce properly or they would have picked that as a difficult turn, and (if they had any sense) arranged a clear time with NS. But I suspect they didn’t even think of it…
Steve
Steve
That’s what I don’t understand?? At 135’ that rig was just coming off the first S turn (across the Yellow Breeches) then probably started on the 2nd turn. Who the Hell picked that route and why?
I’m thinking it was headed to RT 15 south but don’t know. I kinda feel sorry for the driver cause it’s like trying to race a tank at a go kart track.
What a mess! Must have been a sight to see. Glad there were no injuries.
Boy.,. that is a mess. Wonder why when they filed for a permits to move an over size loads, the RT. and schedule was not taken care of with the Hwy Dept?.
Usually Railways crossings are nbr. one checks.
Noel that was my first thought also. They usually plan those routes pretty thoroughly. Bet it got hung up trying to twist its way through that crossing.
Big issue I’ve seen is the states haven’t a clue.
They put in roundabouts, then hand out a permit for, oh, wind turbine blades, that no way in hades will go around it (and not even on the maps yet), so they drive OVER the island.
Had a bridge up north someplace on Interstate 5 that an oversized load took clean out…dropped it in the river along with at last two cars.
Several years ago, State wanted some big shipment…don’t even remember what it was…all the permits…got to the border with Idaho, State said too big, too heavy…company said find, unhooked and left it there.
Boy did the State have to get their act together on that one…fast!
…taking into consideration, the actual cost including the derailment of the train; it probably would have cost less to move the whole thing by rail, and transfer to truck close to the site…but that’s hind site, and accidents will continue to happen.
Not sure where it was headed to Fred and I don’t think rail was an option. I do know it had a state police escort and there were certainly other options from the chosen route. I also assume they won’t transport it that route again. At least I THINK!
What amazed me the most is I returned to the site less than 19hrs later…all 3 derailed loco’c and 12 derailed cars …GONE! Trains were moving freight again 21hrs later…Business is business and I’m sure NS has quite a bill that will need paid.
David Russell said:
Not sure where it was headed to Fred and I don’t think rail was an option. I do know it had a state police escort and there were certainly other options from the chosen route. I also assume they won’t transport it that route again. At least I THINK!
What amazed me the most is I returned to the site less than 19hrs later…all 3 derailed loco’c and 12 derailed cars …GONE! Trains were moving freight again 21hrs later…Business is business and I’m sure NS has quite a bill that will need paid.
Thats ALWAYS been the biggest advantage rail has over roads, I heard this AM on the radio they are talking it will take many many months of construction to repair washed out roads and replace bridges, where the RRs are already at work and anticipate being mostly reopened after only a month.
Railroads are a private business, for the most part, working on their own property, and don’t have to file Environmental Impact Reports or fuss with Public Unions.
Get-er-done!
I always thought that they were going to keep the Royal Gorge and Tennessee pass as an option, But I guess that I was wrong, apparently some of the track has been removed!
Steve Featherkile said:
Railroads are a private business, for the most part, working on their own property, and don’t have to file Environmental Impact Reports or fuss with Public Unions.
Get-er-done!
Its not just that, a highway, even a simple paved roadway, is a much more complicated structure than a RR row, most rows are simply a level graded earth substrate with a thick crushed gravel base and the track on top, the track in leveled on top of the gravel which locked the track in place, thats a fairly simple set up. A paved highway requires a graded substrate that is essentially trenched down into the ground, but also underlayment fabric, its then built up with a thick very compacted gravel base, more underlayment fabric then either a reinforced concrete roadway surface or a, AC roadway which can require a one or more levels of compacted gravel under it. An AC road can be built faster than a concrete roadway but its still weeks of work if they have to start from scratch where a roadway has been washed out. On the radio they said they were planning on building temporary gravel bypass roads but once to winter snows/rains starts they dont know how successful or safe those temp roads will be.
BTW if the roadway was already existing no additional EIR would be required and any unions involved would jump at the OT hours the repairs would offer, that was the experience here after disasters (quakes, washouts) rebuilds went far faster than expected.
Vic, that was because the guv told the state regulators to stay out of the way.